Managing Conflict Creatively (30th Anniversary Edition)

Donald C. Palmer

Description

What does the Bible say about conflict resolution?
Nobody likes conflict, especially when both parties are “part of the same team.” Unresolved conflict can lead to missionary attrition, but healthy conflict-resolution can be a wonderful growth opportunity, leading to problem-solving and team-building.
In Managing Conflict Creatively, Dr. Palmer first introduces the dynamics of conflict and the common styles of conflict management. After providing a Biblical background, he then identifies types of conflict and how to develop conflict management skills, specifically in cross-cultural situations. Lose your fear of conflict as you walk through case studies, engage in discussion questions, and learn to:
Identify the stages of conflict and steps of healthy problem solving
Encourage healthy conflict resolution in its early stages
Identify your personal conflict style and the characteristics of an effective moderator
Overreact less amid conflict
Consciously choose a conflict-resolution style tailored to each situation
Disagree well and resolve conflicts and misunderstandings without harming your witness
Manage conflict in positive ways that foster growth and collaboration
This manual is intended to serve as a teaching tool and a study guide for cross-cultural conflict management courses in Bible colleges, mission organizations, and churches. Thirty years after its original publication, this practical, Bible-centered approach to the dynamics of conflict and conflict management in cross-cultural situations remains relevant, both abroad and in today’s hybrid cities.

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Christian Living
• Philosophie et théologie
• Prayer

Informations

• Publié par: William Carey Publishing
• Date de parution: 06 octobre 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781645083474
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Managing Conflict Creatively (30th Anniversary Edition): A Guide for Missionaries Christian Workers
1990, 2020 by Donald C. Palmer
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise-without prior written permission of the publisher, except brief quotations used in connection with reviews in magazines or newspapers. For permission, email [e-mail] . For corrections, email [e-mail] .
Published by William Carey Publishing 10 W. Dry Creek Cir Littleton, CO 80120 | www.missionbooks.org
William Carey Publishing is a ministry of Frontier Ventures Pasadena, CA 91104 | www.frontierventures.org
Mike Riester, cover design Cover image by Hassan Pasha, unsplash.com
ISBNs: 978-1-64508-344-3 (paperback), 978-1-64508-346-7 (mobi), 978-1-64508-347-4 (epub)
Digitial Ebook Release 2020
Library of Congress data on file with publisher.
DEDICATION
To Dorothy, my partner in life and ministry, and to our children, Jean, John, and Bruce.
and
To my fellow missionaries with whom I ve been privileged to serve.
CONTENTS
Foreword
Author s Preface
Publisher s Preface
Section I: The Dynamics of Conflict
Definition of Conflict
The Inevitability of Conflict
The Underlying Causes of Conflict
The Issues Involved in Conflict
The Four Types of Conflict
The Potential in Conflict
Conclusion
Section II: Styles of Conflict Management
The Five Styles of Conflict Management
Important Principles Regarding Styles
Conclusion
Section III: The Bible and Conflict
Types of Conflict in the Bible
Seven Biblical Passages on Conflict
Conclusion
Section IV: Development of Conflict Management Skills
Learn the Stages in the Conflict Cycle
Manage Conflict in Its First Stages
Develop an Effective Conflict Management Strategy
The Qualities and Role of a Referee
Case Study #1
Section V: Cross-Cultural Factors
Styles of Leadership
The Negotiation Process
Time Orientation
Direct Versus Indirect Approach
Decision-Making Process
Planning
Ten Recommendations
Conclusion
Case Study #2
Case Study #3
References
FOREWORD
The book you hold in your hands is, apart from the Bible, possibly one of the most important books you will ever read. That is because conflict with fellow workers is the number one reason Christians leave positions in which they have been serving God. Interpersonal conflict is a huge hindrance to effective Christian ministry. This is true both for people serving God in their home cultures and for those serving cross-culturally.
Relational breakdown between missionaries is often cited by mission agency leaders as the most significant issue they struggle with. Our own in-depth research among members of multicultural church-planting teams working in unreached cities in East, South-East, and West Asia, together with the research of others, reveals that far too often conflict seriously damages team members emotional health to the point that they are no longer able to work together. A friend of ours, whose main ministry is mentoring Christian workers, tells us that the issue they most frequently mention as their main struggle is interpersonal conflict in their teams.
Conflict is a natural part of human relationships and a normal feature of serving God alongside brothers and sisters in Christ. The Bible s depiction of the conflicts encountered by the people of God reminds us how widespread and significant a part of life it is. The Bible also emphasizes that conflict between believers is not an aberration or something we should despair over. Instead, it shows us that conflict is a normal part of the experience of God s people, even between missionaries. A notable example is the sharp disagreement between missionaries Paul and Barnabas that caused them to part company (Acts 15:36-39).
That we should expect conflict in ministry is highlighted by the fact that all seven biblical examples of conflict analyzed by Donald Palmer were between believers, with more than half being between Christian workers. The Bible also emphasizes our need to make every effort to resolve conflict (e.g. Eph 4:3; 31-32). Moreover, it encourages us that when conflict is managed well, the outcome can bring great glory to God.
Managing Conflict Creatively is solidly grounded in Scripture. It is a practical guide to working through conflict based on decades of accumulated experience and wisdom. More recent research into conflict and its resolution continues to affirm the book s main messages. Researchers such as Stella Ting-Toomey and John Oetzel, as well as missiologists such as David Dunaetz, have written extensively on interpersonal conflict. Their analyses of the causes of conflict, varying personal and culturally shaped approaches to conflict, and the best ways of working through various kinds of conflict show that Palmer s approach to conflict resolution stands the test of time and is as relevant now as it ever has been. 1
Many of us need to widen our repertoire of responses to conflict. We tend to apply a one-size-fits-all approach that has sometimes worked for us in the past. However, this single approach will likely not be adequate to navigate through the myriad types of conflict we will encounter in Christian ministry, and especially in cross-cultural ministry. In this book, Palmer shows us both the why and how of expanding our conflict management toolkit, with a helpful emphasis on creatively working through conflict. This creativity involves us working to understand the unique reasons for each new conflict as it arises, dealing with it as early as possible, and collaborating towards the best solution.
This handbook continues to stand out because it succinctly provides us not only with ways to carefully analyze the real causes of any specific conflict and to understand our fellow workers approaches to conflict, but also with a time-tested roadmap for managing conflict s often thorny and foggy terrain. We pray that you will find help here to work through the conflicts you face, to the glory of God and for the advancement of his Kingdom.
AUTHOR S PREFACE
Throughout my ministry as a missionary in Colombia and while serving and visiting our mission fields in Latin America, I was called upon to help with conflict resolution that involved missionaries and national leaders. Realizing that some of these conflicts could have been handled better, I began to study and seek help in this area and to prepare basic materials for use in the field.
As a student at TEDs (Trinity Divinity School), I studied under Norm Shawchuck. His ministry was in conflict resolution-in all kinds of situations, but specifically churches. Warren Benson then guided my DM in project in conflict management. Part of the result of that work was this book, geared not for expats in the field, but for missionaries, national leaders, and church leaders, all of whom must deal with conflicts at some time.
This manual is designed for discussion and feedback. It is intended to serve as a teaching and study guide for a series of five seminar sessions. When I lead a presentation of Managing Conflict Creatively with a group, we allow at least two hours for each session and use about half of our time in presentation and half in smaller group discussion. Much of the benefit of the study is in these discussion sessions that follow each presentation.
I am grateful to William Carey Publishing for making my book available to God s servants both here and abroad. And I want to thank my fellow missionaries and national leaders who gave their valuable input along the way.
PUBLISHER S PREFACE
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
It is with great enthusiasm that William Carey Publishing releases a revised edition of Managing Conflict Creatively . This book is still timely and relevant in today s multi-cultural cities and world. Some terms for various regions or ethnic backgrounds previously used in this book have been updated to reflect Dr. Palmer s intent in modern terminology.
Sincerely, The William Carey Publishing Team
T here are more people on our planet than ever before, and the trend is for most of us to crowd into the major urban centers. This in itself creates the potential for greater conflicts between people. But along with this, changes are taking place so rapidly in our world that we are hard-pressed to keep up. Our fast-paced society and complex communication systems strain our coping abilities. Add to this the destructive tendencies that sin had introduced into the human race, and the result is a very volatile mixture of ingredients in human society. Out of this mixture misunderstandings, hostilities, and conflicts seem to multiply and sometimes explode.
The result of all this is that conflict is a growth industry in our day. It has existed since the beginning of human history, but its occurrence is now more frequent and its intensity greater. The increase in violence, lawsuits, and divorce in our country are all evidence of this. People once were taught to accept and submit to authority. Today we are taught to question and challenge the decisions and with authority of those over us. We were taught to turn the other cheek but today we are encouraged to assert and defend our perceived rights. We were taught to hide our feelings and emotions ad keep our composure at all times. Now it s considered far healthier to let it all hang out.
Besides the changes, our societies-especially the cities-are increasingly heterogeneous. The average community, school, church, and organization is composed of people from many different backgrounds, cultures, religions, races, and value systems. All of these differing viewpoints and behavior increase the likelihood of misunderstandings that, in turn, lead to conflicts. Churches, mission agencies, and other Christian organizations certainly a